Foxes Draw With Everton On Filbert Way
The Toffees were ahead at the break as Iliman Ndiaye smashed home but Stephy Mavididi's second consecutive Premier League strike earned a point for the hosts.
There was a first Premier League start for Morocco international Bilal El Khannous, who came in in place of Oliver Skipp in the only change to Steve Cooper’s XI following last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.
The first of the goalmouth action saw Mads Hermansen comfortably hold onto Dwight McNeil's glanced header on three minutes. Chances continued to come for the visiting side, Jesper Lindstrøm volleying wide from Ndiaye's cross in front of the south stand. Leicester were able to absorb and hit back with an opportunity of their own, but Wilfred Ndidi - with three assists to his name already in 2024/25 - headed Harry Winks' corner over the cross bar.
Everton, however, maintained their pressure and took their next opportunity to edge in front at King Power Stadium. Ndiaye was the man to put the Toffees ahead as he received Ashley Young's well-weighted pass and cut inside before smashing in off the foot of Hermansen's right-hand post. The Foxes were looking for an immediate response but Mavididi curled well wide on 15 minutes.
The warm summer's morning that had preceded the game had soon turned to deep grey skies and a downpour of rain followed. In testing conditions, Ndidi sent a half-volley straight at Jordan Pickford, happy to collect, before Hermansen had to parry away from Lindstrøm. It was much more awkward for Pickford on 35 minutes when Mavididi's delivery saw him just about keep the ball on the right side of the goal-line.
Thunder and lightning soon arrived alongside a monumental deluge that was only parted by King Power Stadium's floodlights. Dominic Calvert-Lewin wanted a favourable decision from the referee five minutes before the interval but there was nothing given when Victor Kristiansen did enough to defend on the edge of the box. Lindstrøm lifted over, McNeil drilled wide and then Jordan Ayew had a shot blocked in first-half stoppage time. Everton led 1-0 at the interval.
Everton set about doubling their advantage at the start of the second half, with goalscorer Ndiaye wriggling through and firing inches wide. City were also threatening, a nice touch and hooked strike from Ayew flying just over Pickford's crossbar. Then came Cooper's first substitution of the afternoon, with El Khannouss being replaced by Facundo Buonanotte on 56 minutes.
The Foxes were building, with Ndidi electing to pass instead of shoot, however his pass into Jamie Vardy was too heavy and ran out of play. On the break, Calvert-Lewin forced Hermansen into a good diving save and Caleb Okoli headed agonisingly over as both sides traded blows. City would finally have their goal, though, with Ndidi heading down and Mavididi bundling home for 1-1.
The momentum was with Cooper's men, with Ndidi sending an attempt of his own wide of Pickford's goal with just over 10 minutes remaining. A second change of the game for Leicester arrived on 82 minutes when Odsonne Édouard made his debut for the Club, replacing Vardy up front.
Buonanotte's fearsome volley was blocked in the box and Michael Keane was able to clear Ayew's downward header as City peppered the Everton goal. A final roll of the dice saw Abdul Fatawu come on for Mavididi with four minutes of stoppage time remaining.
Leicester enjoyed plenty of the ball after the regulation 90 had elapsed, while Hermansen held Calvert-Lewin's deflected effort, but it finished 1-1 on Filbert Way. Leicester next travel to Walsall on Tuesday in the Carabao Cup Third Round prior to a Premier League trip to Arsenal four days later.